Professional Chefs Share Their All-Time Favorite Cookbooks

As the old adage goes, culinary school is temporary, a curious mind is forever.

And while we’re lucky to have six very curious and - dare I say - masterful culinary minds on Team Tiny Spoon, it’s human nature to get into a rut sometimes. Yep, even for those of us who have cooked around the world, instructed hundreds, and won awards for their cuisine. 

Where do these masters of their craft go for inspiration? That’s right: cookbooks. The good old fashioned kind. Chef Janice is even known to read them like novels and keep them on the nightstand. Is she memorizing recipes in her sleep? Probably not. But she is keeping her instincts on their toes and looking for flavor profiles and combinations she’s never tried. Beyond straight recipes, cookbooks can be a wonderful place to start to get familiar with the foundational flavors of a type of cuisine. 

A book focused on Thai cuisine, for example, might build a lot of different dishes from a base of garlic, ginger, and scallions (something we learned from Chef Laura in her most recent cooking class!). For French food, that may look more like butter, garlic, and shallots. The point is, there’s so much about the shape of a cuisine to be learned from the traditional cookbook, and reading through a chef’s eyes might have you looking at flavors in an entirely new way.  

Best for building blocks:

The Flavor Bible

This is Chef Ashley’s foundational pick - and for good reason. She says “It’s super helpful when building menus. It essentially lists what pairs with any ingredient you can think of!”

Best for classics:

The French Laundry Cookbook

“My all time favorite is Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry Cookbook,” says Chef Andrew. “The finesse with which he cooks is unbelievable and the photos are stunning.” Salmon Coronets, Oysters and Pearls, and Butter-Poached Lobster are just some of the classic recipes you’ll find inside, all delivered with the precision of a French master. In a word? Elegant. 

Best for unconventional fun:

F*ck That’s Delicious

“He’s a favorite character of mine. It’s like music, sports, cooking and lifestyle in one book,” says Chef Matt of Chef/Rapper/TV host Action Bronson. Bronson’s official cookbook is a favorite not only for its personality, but for the genuinely showstopping recipe. Black Truffle and Comte Hamburgers? Yes please.

Best for comfort:

Peru by Gastón Acurio

This veritable Bible of Peruvian cooking contains “500 traditional, home-cooking recipes,” and is Chef Juan’s pick. “Like its cover, it’s full of unique and colorful foods,” he says. “Personally, it reminds me of comfort food, just with more elegant and modern plating.”

Best for nostalgia:

The Boston Cooking School Cookbook

In perhaps our favorite vignette yet, Chef Laura says “My favorite cookbook is a cookbook my dad's mom passed down to him. She was a baker and acquired this1945-edition cookbook during her education and practice. I never met my dad's mom, but it's a prized artifact in our family. Not only for the killer cream of mushroom soup and cornbread recipes [!!] but also for the sentiment behind it. In the blank pages of the back you can see her handwritten recipes jotted down.” 

Best insider look:

Inside Chefs’ Fridges, Europe

This documentary-style cookbook is a favorite of Chef Ben’s for its personal touch. Touring the fridges of 40 of Europe’s top chefs, it brings the notion of the celebrity chef “back down to Earth” by sharing a peek into their lives - as well as a few beloved recipes.